Darcy Graham delivers perfect response to his British & Irish Lions snub

Darcy Graham has been hailed “a magician” after delivering the perfect response to being left out of the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.

The Scotland winger scored a scintillating hat-trick of tries to help Edinburgh claim the 47-17 bonus point victory over Ulster which booked them a spot in the play-offs.

Commenting on Graham’s “disappointing” omission from the trip Down Under, his coach Sean Everett said: “Selections are tough, especially the Lions tour when it only comes around once every four years.

“Darcy has been in good form for Edinburgh and he was in good form for Scotland as well.

“I know he didn’t play all the Six Nations games, but every time he puts on a rugby jersey he tends to turn something out of nothing.

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“He’s a real magician out there with his footwork and the work rate that he does. So it is disappointing for him, but he is still young enough to make the next one.

“You’ve just got to keep on fighting because the nature of the sport is there could be injuries and he’s the next one in.”

Reflecting on Edinburgh’s successful push for the Play-Offs, Everett said: “It’s been nine weeks of pressure, to be quite honest.

“It’s been so tough for a long period of time, with the European games as well.

“I am just proud that the boys pulled it through with the performance they put in, especially in the second half. That’s how we want to play the game. There were some brilliant tries scored, so I’m happy for the boys.

“Sometimes in rugby, it can be a domino effect. You just need a couple of wins and you turn the corner. You get momentum when you are playing well and that’s definitely what’s happened with us.”

The Player of the Match award went to skipper Magnus Bradbury who crossed twice from No 8 in what Everett described as an “outstanding” performance.

Giving his own thoughts on the win, Bradbury commented: “It’s a fantastic feeling. We had a job to do and everyone delivered on their jobs.

“As a collective, it was brilliant. The team is just growing from strength to strength. We are demanding more of each other, we are demanding higher standards.”

It was an emotional night for Bradbury’s back row colleague Jamie Ritchie as he bid farewell to the Hive Stadium.

The Scotland flanker is moving on at the end of the season to join Perpignan after more than a decade with Edinburgh.

He received a big ovation from a packed crowd when he came off the bench early in the second half and played his part as his seven-try team pulled away.

Reflecting on his final home appearance, the 28-year-old Ritchie said: “It’s hard to put into words.

“I have been here since I finished school, since I was 17 years old.

“Through my whole adult life, this place has been my family, my mates, so it’s pretty emotional.

“I’m glad we got the win and I can enjoy it with all my best mates. We knew we needed to get five points, so job done.”